ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1099 16 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0758) 14 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | PYON, Kyu P’al (邊奎八) (변규팔) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 2766 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Ammunition Bearer |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, 45th Regt, AA Unit |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School (2 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 10 km ESE of YONGCH’ON (永川) (1190-1450) at KWAN DONG |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 11 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, SlN HUNG-Gun, WONP’YONG-Myon, CHUNG-Ni (咸鏡南道 新興郡 原平 中里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, CHONGJIN City, SE HUNG Ni (咸鏡北道 淸津市 世興里) |
| INTERROGATION: | S/Sgt Harold NAKAYAMA (FEAF) |
PW cooperative during interrogation. 200 men departed YONGCH'ON and reached KWAN DONG where they were attacked by an ROK unit. After a short engagement, PW and 30 men retreated to a house and the remaining 170 men were either killed or escaped. ROK troops captured 10 trucks, 7 x 76-mm, 3 x 120-mm Guns and the group of 30 NK men.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
PW wee inducted into the NKPA 21 Apr 50, at NAJIN (羅津). 21 Apr to 15 May 50, basic training. From 15 May to 30 May 50, instructed in disassembly and assembly of and firing AA guns. No live ammunition used.
Departed NAJIN - 22 Jun 50 - by train - arrived WONSAN (元山) 23 Jun 50.
Departed WONSAN - 23 Jun 50 - by truck - arrived KUMHWA (金化) 24 Jun 50.
Departed KUMHWA - 25 Jun 50 - by truck - arrived CH'UNCH'ON (春川) - 27 Jun 50.
Departed CH'UNCH'ON - 29 Jun 50 - by truck - arrived UMSONG (陰城) - 5 Jul 50.
Departed UMSONG - 5 Jul 50 - by truck - arrived SANGJU (尙州) - 16 Jul 50.
Departed SANGJU - 16 Jul 50 - by truck - arrived KUMCH'ON (金泉) 2 Aug 50.
Departed KUMCH'ON - 3 Aug 50 - by truck - arrived P'ALGONG-SAN (八公山) 10 Aug 50.
Departed P'ALGONG-SAN - 13 Aug 50 - by truck - arrived YONGCH’ON (永川) - 7 Sep 50.
From CH'UNCH'ON (春川) to YONGCH’ON (永川) the unit was never in combat. Unit followed 15th Div all the way. From P'ALGONG-SAN, 15th Div proceeded to YONGCH’ON.
Original Organization and strength:
15th Div - 10,000 men (approx)
45th Regt - 3,000 men - 50th Regt - 3,000 men; 39th Regt - 3,000 men; Arty Regt - 1,000 men (figures are approximate)
1st Bn - 700 men; 2nd Bn - 700 men; 3rd Bn - 700 men. Arty unit attached to Regt. AA Gun unit attached to Bn - 39 men.
Equipment: Div (Original)
243 x DP LMG
140 x PPsh SMG M1941
140 x Maxim HMG M1910
108 x 120-mm Mortar
27 x 122-mm M1910/30 Howitzer
108 x 76-mm M1922 Gun
100 x 14.5-mm PTRS-41
52 x 45-mm M1937 AT Gun
18 x 12,7-mm PSHK M1938 AA Gun
16 x SU-76 SP
30 x ZIS-151 truck
27 x Field Telephone
Ammunitions and supplies were brought with the Div when it departed NAJIN.
Unit History:
15th Div CG - PAK, Song Ch’ol (朴成喆) (박성철) Maj Gen
45th Regt CO - GH'OE, Chang Gon (崔장건) (최장건) Col; Age 45
AA Gun Unit CO - CHON, I Song (田二成) (전이성) Jr Lt; Age 23
Communications:
Runners - 1 man to platoon. All messages were in writing.
Intention:
At P'ALGONG-SAN their primary objective was T'AEGU and later changed to YONGCH'ON.
Knowledge of other Unit:
13th Div was at P'ALGONG-SAN (20 km NE of T'AEGU) 13 Aug 50.
Morale:
PW’s morale was high until arriving at P’ALGONG-SAN. The unit had sufficient food and travelled mostly on trucks. Due to initial successes, morale remained high at P'ALGONG-SAN. PW’s morale went down after observing the casualties, number of men killed, loss of equipment, and superiority of UN equipment.
Propaganda Leaflets:
PW did not see any leaflets. Orders were given that anyone caught reading leaflets will be shot on the spot.
When news of NKPA's victories were told to the men by officers, the unit morale climbed high.
They were told that propaganda leaflets dropped by US aircraft were all false and if taken prisoner they would be tortured and killed.
PW feels that if any photograph of PW’s alive could be dropped in enemy territory, larger numbers of men would throw their weapons and surrender at the first opportunity.
Aerial Attacks:
15th Dlv was attacked by F-51, F-82, F-80, B-26 and B-29 between P'ALGONG-SAH and YONGCH'ON. PW estimates that approx 50% of unit became casualties during this period from ground action as well as air action,
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
